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Influence of Carbohydrate and Age on Lymphocyte Function Following a Marathon
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Influence of Carbohydrate and Age on Lymphocyte Function Following a Marathon

Dru Henson, David Nieman, Edward Pistilli, Brian Schilling, AnnaRita Colacino, Allan Utter, Omar Fagoaga, Debra Vinci and Sandra Nehlsen-Cannarella
International Journal of Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism, Vol.14(3), pp.308-322
06/01/2004
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.14.3.308
PMID: 15256691
Web of Science ID: WOS:000222287500007

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18 Times Cited - Web of Science

Abstract

The influence of 6% carbohydrate ingestion and age on PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation and in vitro cytokine production was studied in 48 runners following a competitive marathon. Runners were randomly assigned to carbohydrate (C; n = 23) and placebo (P; n = 25) groups, with blood samples taken before, immediately after, and 1.5 hr post-race. C versus P ingestion resulted in higher plasma glucose, lower plasma corlisol, reduced neutrophilia, and mono-cytosis during recovery, but had no effect on the post-exercise reduction in T-lymphocytes or NK cells, or on race times. No group differences were observed for PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation or cytokine production. However, for all subjects combined, lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-γ secretion decreased significantly below pre-race values by 1.5 hr of recovery, and these were negatively correlated with plasma cortisol. Young (<50 years; n = 36) and old (≥50 years; n = 12) runners exhibited parallel post-race declines in lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-γ secretion, with the older group exhibiting a 33–59% lower proliferation at each time point. In conclusion, PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production decreased significantly following a marathon, and this decrease was strongly linked to cortisol and only partially linked to T-cell changes. This decrease occurred in both younger and older runners and was not influenced by carbohydrate.

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